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Big Data To Become Powerful Driver Of IT Spending - Gartner

Date: 18th October 2012

by Russell Dickinson

IT research powerhouse Gartner released a statement yesterday featuring some highlights of a new report. The publication centres on Big Data, more specifically infrastructure changes and IT spending driven by it. According to Gartner's forecast, $28 billion will be spent globally on Big Data-related IT solutions in 2012 and the figure is projected to reach $34 billion in 2013.

The forecast covers the period through to 2016, when Gartner sees Big Data responsible for $232 billion in IT expenditure.

At present, the bulk of investment goes into adapting traditional solutions to the demands posed by Big Data. In 2012 Big Data functionality issues will be directly responsible for just $4.3 billion in software sales.

Social network analysis and content analytics are currently the areas where Big Data has the biggest impact, driving 45% of new investment in these segments every year. The most affected areas in the traditional IT supplier markets are application infrastructure and middleware, where 10% of new investment is related to Big Data in one way or another.

Gartner research vice-president Mark Beyer pointed out that regardless of the hype, Big Data does not constitute a distinct, stand-alone market. It is, however, a market force affecting all industries and its demands need to be addressed in relation to products, practices and solution delivery. Last year, Big Data proved a new spending driver in nearly every IT investment category. But by 2018 it will no longer be a differentiating factor in information management practices and technology. Come 2020, traditional enterprise suppliers will be expected to have Big Data features and functionality incorporated into their product offerings, Beyer said.